Unless Dawson just completely whips Tarver's ass, why make that fight? He already beat the only guy who ever dominated Antonio. If Dawson pulls a 7-5 win out, what's beating him going to prove that Joe already didn't there? You know if Tarver wins he'll be 40 by the time the fight goes down, and if Dawson wins, there's still the issue of him probably beating an older Tarver not to the level that Ol' Popkins did. It's just another lose/lose scenario for him. Now Pavlik-Calzaghe, that's where the buzz was and for as much **** as Joe's taken for not taking the fight immediately I figured that this move, pehaps moreso than any other he's made, couldn't be hated on. He's fighting a younger, bigger, prime, undefeated champion in his final fight at home when he's well past his best, putting his own unbeaten record on the line. That, my friend, makes for some damn good viewing. :good
Lol the thread reaks of sarcasim Looks like joe is going to hand kelly his first defeat before he retires and finaly shut up all the haters :good Bravo :thumbsup
In a funny sort of way he's actually right. Chad Dawson is the best fight out there, and would get Calzaghe most credit from knowledgable observers.
There is an argument to be made about him staying at 175 though. The revisionists would most likely play down a victory over Pavlik anyway. Calzaghe is being shrewd here. He can fight Jones then sit back & see how things pan out.
Man, I'm the first one to criticize JC's legacy but if he comes back down to 168 and beats Pavlik....I'll jump on the JC bandwagon. C'mon, everybody was bitching cause he choose to fight Jones instead of KP, but now your gonna bash him for coming down to fight Pavlik? You're wrong bro. If JC fights Pavlik after Jones he earns a lot of respect in my book...and this is coming from a certified "Slappy Joe Calzagay Hater".
By the way, Dawson is gonna get his first loss against Tarver. I thought Johnson beat CD. Tarver's got the height and power.....and good hand speed. Tarver, as painful as it is to admit, is the class of the Lt. Heavyweight division.
Tarver hasn't got anything in his old age. He's got no stamina, no variety, and is one dimensional in his work. He'll sit on the ropes, and then look to fight in spurts, almost always throwing a straight left counter It worked against Clinton Woods, because the guy just didn't turn up, or do anything. Simple as that. Dawson will outwork him easily.
On the Scene where thay talk about Boxing there is an article that quotes Joe saying he may fight Pavlik after the Jones fight. The odd thing is Joe's tone makes it sound as if Kelly has been calling him out, when in fact the reverse is true.
He won't fight at SMW again, nailed on, he wants to hold onto his WBO comfort blanket for the time being as he is within a spit of Joe Louis longevity record.